Truck driver Richard Rogers brought a class action alleging that BNSF Railway violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act through fingerprint-based identity systems at Illinois rail facilities. GDF served as database, data-analysis, and digital forensics experts for plaintiffs' counsel.
The technical problem
Operational systems can hold millions of records without presenting the exact count or relationship needed for trial. The expert task was to understand the relevant databases and gate process, identify the records tied to the alleged conduct, test the counting method, and turn that work into explainable evidence.
Public outcome and later history
The jury found 45,600 reckless or intentional violations, and the district court entered a $228 million judgment based on the statutory amount then applied. The court later preserved the liability finding but vacated the damages award for a new damages trial. The litigation later resolved through a $75 million class settlement that received final approval. Each stage matters; stating only the first judgment would leave the procedural history incomplete.
The outcome is specific to this case and is not a promise or estimate of a result in another matter.
Practice lesson for data-heavy matters
Start with system design and record provenance before counting rows. Preserve queries, transformations, exclusions, duplicates, test results, and reconciliation totals. Trial graphics should simplify the explanation without concealing the steps between raw data and the number offered.